Review: The Power of Peer Mentoring: Peer Mentoring Resource Booklet

Review by Emma Bourassa, Currently on secondment to VCC Experiential Learning Materials
Developer and Field Test Instructor ESL Pathways Research Project, Thompson
Rivers University

The
resource I came across is from California State University Northridge and is
titled The Power of Peer Mentoring: Peer Mentoring Resource Booklet.

This 21 page booklet begins with the
definition: "A mentor is defined as a knowledgeable and experienced guide,
a trusted ally and advocate and a caring role model." (p. 2). In addition
to the definition, the author, Professor Glenn Omatsu, hones in on what an
effective mentor is. The themes of being " respectful, reliable,
patient, trustworthy and a very good listener and communicator" continue
in each section of the booklet. The notion of mentoring as a kind of
consciousness is the central idea that is reiterated in the various sections.
For instance, in the section "You're Serving as a Peer Mentor When....You
help [others] achieve the potential within themselves that is hidden to others-
and perhaps even to the [others] themselves" (p. 4). The focus is on
the mentee's success. In Misconceptions, the idea of calling oneself a
Peer Mentor is challenged by the reality that..."not all [who] work with
[others] as advisors... are Peer Mentors, even if they have that job
title" (p.6).

The
resource is a practical collection of ideas of what a Peer Mentor is and is
not; which could be a useful reflective tool for those considering what Mentoring
would involve. There is a self- inventory on listening skills which also could
be used as a reflective tool or as agreements with a Community of Mentors. A
key point that resonated with me is that Mentoring is a reciprocal act and
the Mentor has a great opportunity to learn as much as the Mentee. Another
valuable inclusion in the booklet is the points on working with diversity and
how "[y]our own willingness to interact with individuals and groups
different from yourself will make a powerful statement about the value placed
on diversity... contrary to popular belief, we are not 'all the
same' (p.13)." The details about the consciousness of a Mentor are
stated simply and the book is organized into a definition, the development of a
mentor, misconceptions, objectives of mentoring, and self-exploration. There
is a list of web links for further reading. The booklet is based on
previous published works and although it is the final page, refers to Paulo Freire's
idea that "[t]he fundamental task of the mentor is a liberatory task. It
is not to encourage the mentor's goals and aspirations and dreams to be
reproduced in the mentees” (p.21).

While
the booklet is written for student peers, I think there is much that can be
translated to other contexts that involve understanding the challenges of being
new to an institution, role or community in higher education.